Sewing machine case

ABSTRACT

A sewing machine case having a hole in its upper surface through which projects a handle of the machine body is disclosed. At each end of the hole a locking lip is arranged, the locking lip being displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the hole and being acted upon by a spring in the direction toward the hole and the handle projecting therethrough. The handle is provided with a stop face or recess which cooperates with the locking lip.

Umted States Patent 1191 1111 3,910,329 Giesselmann Oct. 7, 1975 [54]SEWING MACHINE CASE 1,471,385 /1923 Critchley l90/58 A 2,467,47l 4 1949G ld t i 150 52 R [75] Invent: g i g Glesselmann Huskvama, 3,038,5136i1962 n ml et ii 150i52 R e en [73] Assignee: Husqvarna AB, Huskvarna,Sweden Primary Examiner-Herbert F. Ross [22] Filed: Mar. 1974 Attorney,Agent, or Firml-lolman & Stern [21] Appl. No.: 451,704

[57] ABSTRACT Foreign Application Priority Data A sewing machine casehaving a hole in its upper sur- M 16 1973 SW d 73036949 face throughwhlch pro ects a handle of the machme 6 en 1 body is disclosed. At eachend of the hole a locking lip is arranged, the locking lip beingdisplaceable in the /52 gi g j g longitudinal direction of the hole andbeing acted /58 A upon by a spring in the direction toward the hole and0 can the handle projecting therethrough. The handle is provided with astop face or recess which cooperates with [56] References Cited thelocking p UNITED STATES PATENTS 458,105 8/1891 Epstein 190/58 A 2 1nrawmg'F'gure US. Patent Oct. 7,1975

SEWING MACHINE CASE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present inventionrelates to a case for a portable sewing machine which is intended toprotect the machine when it is not in use.

Different types of sewing machine cases are known, such as suitcasemodels in which the whole machine is kept, as well as covering modelswhich enclose the actual body of the machine and connect up to abaseplate of the machine. Such cases must be provided with stronghandles and lock-hooks so that the machine can be carried in a securemanner. Handlefree cases are also known, which have a hole through whichprojects a handle of the machine body. A case of this type is suitableas a protection for particularly light, narrow sewing machines, since itcan readily be adapted to the width, length and height of the machineand therefore does not take up unnecessary space.

The present invention is a further development of the last-mentionedtype. Although the handle constitutes the most natural carrier elementfor the machine, situations do occur when the edges of the case may beused as carrier elements. It must be possible for example to lift themachine from a table, shelf etc. to a lower basis, and this is doneappropriately by the person gripping around the bottom edges or sideedges of the case.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is the object of the present invention toprovide a locking device for the case with the handle, which forms asufficiently strong connection between the case and the machine forallowing the machine to be carried by means of a grip around merely thecase. A locking device which fulfills the proposed demand for strengthand convenient handling will be realized according to the invention,when the sewing machine case is provided with a rectangular holesituated on the topside of the case with space for a handle arranged onthe sewing machine, and at each end of the hole a locking lip isarranged, which is displaceable in the longitudinal direction of thehole and which is acted upon by a spring in the direction towards thehole and the handle projecting through the same, provided with stopface, recess or the like co-operating with the locking lip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING One example of a sewing machine caseprovided with a locking device according to the invention is describedin the following with reference to the attached drawing, which shows acase together with locking lips and a handle for the carrying of thesewing machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The case 1, which coversthe sewing machine, may have box-shape as shown in the drawing and mayhave on top a rectangular hole 2, through which the handle, which isfirmly attached to the arm of ,the sewing machine, projects when thecase is placed on the machine. This case is known in principle fromprior art. In the known realization the case is without a lock, however,and for the abovementioned reasons such a lock is considered necessary.

The locking device is formed by two locking lips 3, one at each end ofthe rectangular hole 2. On the underside of of the lips is a strip 4provided with longitudinal grooves at the sides, which run in a guideway5 at each end of the hole 2. The locking part itself is formed by awedge in the end of the strip 4 and on the top of the same is a coverplate 6 shaped so that it has a finger grip 7. The locking lips aredisplaced in the guideway towards the hole 2 against a stop 8 by aspring 9, the ends of which abut against the lip and the end of a cutout10 in the case respectively.

When the case is placed onto the sewing machine the two wedgesco-operate each with a recess 11 in the ends of the handle. When thecase is put on the machine the point of each wedge glides towards theouter end surfaces 12 of the handle, and when the point reaches therecess 11, the wedge is urged by spring force into the recess which hasat the top a transverse edge against which rests. the top side of thewedge. When both wedges have gone into their respective recesses, thecase will be fixed firmly on the machine.

The lock is opened in that the locking lips are pushed with the thumbsaway from the handle and the case is lifted at the same time by a griparound its upper side edges.

The realization of the case and its locks is to be regarded as anexample of how the invention can be realized. Variants of the describedgrip between locking lip and handle and the locking lips-attachment tothe case are conceivable and may replace those described above. Thelocking lips may for example be made longer than shown and consequentlybe nearer the outer edge of the case. It is also possible to providecatch positions on the locking lips, so that the same stop in openposition. Such variants shall be considered to be included in the basicprinciple of the invention, which is defined in its scope in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sewing machine case having an open lower end and provided with arectangular hole situated on the topside of the case with space for ahandle arranged on the sewing machine, at each end of the hole therebeing located a guideway and a locking lip displaceable in said guidewayin the longitudinal direction of the hole, a spring acting upon said lipin the direction toward the center of said hole, said handle havingouter end surfaces each of which is provided with a recess for receivingsaid locking lips, wherein the locking lips, when the handle enters intothe hole, slip on said end surfaces and are displaced away from thehandle against the bias of the spring and snap into said recesses, whenthe case is put on the sewing machine with the handle completely in saidhole.

2. A sewing machine case according to claim 1,

wherein the locking lips are provided with finger grips.

1. A sewing machine case having an open lower end and provided with arectangular hole situated on the topside of the case with space for ahandle arranged on the sewing machine, at each end of the hole therebeing located a guideway and a locking lip displaceable in said guidewayin the longitudinal direction of the hole, a spring acting upon said lipin the direction toward the center of said hole, said handle havingouter end surfaces each of which is provided with a recess for receivingsaid locking lips, wherein the locking lips, when the handle enters intothe hole, slip on said end surfaces and are displaced away from thehandle against the bias of the spring and snap into said recesses, whenthe case is put on the sewing machine with the handle completely in saidhole.
 2. A sewing machine case according to claim 1, wherein the lockinglips are provided with finger grips.